A look back at the week of June 27-July 3. Huge week for Cesar Hernandez, who is beginning to make the Phils decision making at 2B interesting…Andrew Knapp is hitting well, even while suffering from an arm injury that is keeping him from catching…Tommy Joseph’s 2013 is turning into a lost season…Pitching lines simply dont get better than that of Severino Gonzalez last week…Minor league hitters continue to mash Tyler Cloyd.

Hot Hitters: Michael Martinez (.571, 4RBI); Cesar Hernandez (.464, 4R 4RBI, 4SB); Albert Cartwright (.455, 3HR 5RBI, 2SB); Cody Asche (.420); Logan Pierce (.417, 5R, 5RBI); Tyson Gillies (.417); Andrew Knapp (.375, 3SB); Chris Serritella (.353, 2HR); Maikel Franco (.333, 6R, HR 4RBI); Gustavo Martinez (.333). Honorable Mention: Duran Continue reading Hot or Not →

There have been a lot of questions about Severino Gonzalez so I thought it was time to write him up.  There isn’t a lot about him or his stuff, but now that he is in the Lakewood rotation there are more reports trickling in.

The Scouting Profile:

Fastball: The reports are that it is mostly 89-91 touching as high as 92.  There is not much about the movement on the pitch, but he can consistently throw it for strikes.

Curveball:  By most reports his best pitch, it is a low 70s breaking ball with good break. Continue reading Prospect Spotlight – Severino Gonzalez →

The ‘Pigs played the eighth game of a nine game homestand last evening and ended the homestand with a 5-2  loss to Toledo,. Over the course of the homestand, Lehigh Valley is 4-4 and now sit at 45-40 and in 2nd place of the Northern Division of the International League, 6.5 games behind division leading Pawtucket.  The ‘Pigs are tied for the wild card lead with Norfolk.

‘Pigs Prospects: Cody Asche has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games and is hitting .400 (16-40) over that timeframe, and is over .280 on the year, continuing to show decent power and some speed to go along with good defense. He went almost the entire month of June without an error (27 games), finally committing an error on the 30th of June. His power numbers are increasing as his last 200 AB’s have yielded 7 HR’s, after just one in his first 100 AB’s. Struggling a bit against LHP (.241) and with RISP (.236). Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

There really is no bigger boom or bust day in professional sports than the opening of baseball’s international signing period on July 2.  Starting tomorrow teams will sign 16 year olds to contracts for hundreds of thousands of dollars hoping they have found the kid with superstar potential.  Many won’t get past complex league,  others will change body shape too much, more will fail to go from showcase player to baseball player, but some will emerge as real prospects.  The amount of ways to bring talent into your system are finite and the international signing period remains one of the most exploitable.

The Phillies have been more aggressive in recent years signing three “top” players in 2012 in RF Jose Pujols, C Deivi Grullon, and RHP Lewis Alezones, in addition to 100k+ signees Gregori Rivero and Wilker Isavas.  While they may not sign the top player available they certainly will spend close to their allotted slot money on guys more in the 50k-200k range.  Continue reading July 2 Preview →

A look at the week of June 21-27.  Quick thoughts….Franco is certainly making the #1 prospect in the organization a debate….and with Franco’s promotion, Harold Martinez gets hot for the first time in his career…Hoby Milners negative turn around is concerning. I think he may be injured with the lack of K’s and increased walk rate over the last couple of starts.

Hot Hitters: Maikel Franco (.483, 5R 3HR 7RBI); Harold Martinez (.433); Willie Carmona (.417, 4R HR, 6RBI); Brock Stassi (.412); Larry Greene Jr, (.393); ANgelo Mora (.389, 5R 2HR 7RBI, 2SB); Aaron ALtherr (.379, HR, 5RBI); Brian Pointer (.357, 5RBI); Miguel ABreu (.357); Anthony Hewitt (.348, 3HR 7RBI); Honorable Mention: Ruf, Susdorf, Moore, Gillies, Valle, Oberto, Parr Continue reading Hot or Not →

The ‘Pigs returned home with a 3-1 loss against Durham on Tuesday night after a successful 5-3 road trip. On the year, Lehigh Valley now sits at 41-37 and in 2nd place of the Northern Division of the International League, 7 games behind division leading Pawtucket. The ‘Pigs currently lead the wild card race by one game, and play at home through next Wednesday.

‘Pigs Prospects:Darin Ruf has had a good June, hitting .291 for the month after his 0-4 last night. I certainly did not expect anywhere near 2012 power numbers but Ruf’s 2013 numbers have been lower than I thought. 2 homers for the month of June thus far and 7HR 38RBI thru the half way mark of the IronPigs season.  Ruf is hitting .266/.346/.418 on the year with a 11%bb rate and a 26% K rate. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Stats are thru Saturday June 22, 2013.  Min 130AB and 27IP. The story here is obviously 1) Maikel Franco and 2) the lack of a pitching story.

Hitters: Hits: Maikel Franco (83); James Murphy (79); Cody Asche (75); Aaron Altherr (73); Chris Serritella (72); Cesar Hernandez (68); Cameron Perkins (67); Darin Ruf (67); Carlos ALonso (66); Willie Carmona (64).

Runs: Carlos Alonso (47); Maikel Franco (43); Aaron Altherr (41)’ Art Charles (41); Albert Cartwright (39); Jermaine Mitchell (39); Darin Ruf (37); James Murphy (36); Roman Quinn (36); Cody Asche (34)

Doubles: Maikel Franco (23); Aaron ALtherr (21); Cameron Perkins (18);  Darin Ruf (18); Art Charles (18); Cody Overbeck (17); Cody Asche (15); James Murphy (15); Mitch Walding (15) Continue reading Phils Minor League Leaders →

A second look at relief pitchers throughout the organization. Once depth filled, there is now reason for legitimate concern at the upper levels of the organization.  Williamsport and GCL are not included but will be on the next trip around.

Lehigh Valley

Phillipe Aumont, 24, Acquired from Seattle in 2009; 10 games, 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and 2 saves; 9.1IP 9H 14BB 13K; 1.14 GO/AO; .250 opp. avg. .375 vs. LH, .150 vs. RH. Until Aumont is able gain an idea about where the ball is going, this is where he will stay.  Last couple of outings have been a bit better, but has walked 14 in nine innings since being sent down.

Justin Friend, 27, Selected in the 2010 Minor League Rule 5 draft; 25 games between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 4-2 with a 4.97 ERA; 38IP 36H 27BB 30K; 2.33 GO/AO; .250 opp. avg., 6.4BB/7.1K per nine; 1.66 WHIP;  .298 vs. LH, .182 vs. RH, .246 with RISP; 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA over his last 10 games. Friend has been very effective as of late but the walks have really inhibited his success this year.  Continue reading Around the System–Relief Pitchers →

A look back at the week of June 13-19.  A few quick hitters…its very hard to think that Larry Greene will turn it around. Between the brutal numbers and showing up out of shape to Spring Training, I have about written him off…Zambrano should go up. Not sure if immediately in the rotation but he has to be able to help in some way…The enigma that is Brody Colvin continues to cause me to scratch my head…Am I wrong to be very excited about Severino Gonzalez?Mike Nesseth is a name to watch…he knows how to pitch.

Hot Hitters, Min 12 AB’s: Willie Carmona (.667, HR 5RBI); Chris Serritella (.462); Carlos Tocci (.417); Josh Fields (.400, 4RBI); Jim Murphy (.381, 2HR 7RBI); Edgar Duran (.368); Tyler Henson (.357, 3SB); Zach Green (.357); Gustavo Martinez (.357); Mitch Walding (.333, 5R 1HR 3RBI); Honorable Mention: Overbeck Continue reading Hot or Not →